“Never Seen Such A Large Crowd”: Record Numbers Flock To Florida Gun Show After Shooting

A record number of firearms enthusiasts made their way to the Florida State Fairgrounds this weekend to attend the Florida Gun Show, amid a fierce national debate over gun rights following the Valentine’s Day massacre at Stoneman Douglas high school in Parkland, Florida.

Organizers say almost 7,000 people attended on Saturday, with Sunday’s tally expected to be higher. Organizer Steve Fernandez said they’ve never seen such a large crowd – however it’s possible that the cancellation of next month’s show in Fort Lauderdale may have attracted concerned citizens.

The line outside the Florida Gun Show is growing by the minute. Yesterday, an estimated 7K people attended, which organizers say was a huge turnout for Tampa @BN9pic.twitter.com/WTW75lWZmJ

Somewhat ironically, this was to be expected considering the massive effort by gun control advocates to erode as much of the Second Amendment as they can in the wake of the Parkland shooting – never letting a crisis go to waste and all that. President Trump’s recent advocacy for more stringent background checks, a 10-day waiting period and raising the age limit on the purchase of guns following the Parkland shooting likely fueled concerns over a “slippery slope” of firearms legislation.

Florida lawmakers such as Senator Bill Nelson (D) have called for stricter laws to fix the so-called “gun show loophole” which allows people to purchase firearms without a background check. While federally licensed vendors at a gun show are still required to run background checks (FFL), private sellers without a federal license do not have the same requirement in 40 states. (California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Washington D.C., New York, Nevada, Oregon, Rhode Island and Washington all require private sellers to conduct background checks).

“Some of the people attending are afraid that future legislation will impact their gun ownership rights,” said Fernandez. That said, 95% of the vendors at this weekend’s Florida Gun Show are required to run background checks since they are licensed dealers.

“This was a mental health issue. This is someone who should have been identified from the beginning by law enforcement,” says Fernandez.

In any event, Google searches for both “buy a gun”, “buy AR15”,as well as “second amendment” just hit all time highs.

Interest in firearms ownership also spiked following President Obama’s 2008 election – as a flurry of “gun control” headlines resulted in a flood of purchases – as evidenced by number of FBI background checks conducted following the 2008 election – a phenomenon which spiked after every mass shooting or act of domestic terrorism:

Indeed, Obama was jokingly referred to as the “best gun salesman in America,” with 52,600 weapons sold daily under his administration as of June 2016.

Wall St. pushes back

Following the Parkland massacre, over a dozen major companies cut ties with the NRA, including Delta, Hertz and MetLife. Wall St. is no exception. In addition to Bank of America “reexamining relationships with clients who make AR-15s,” Blackrock – the world’s largest money manager – and the largest shareholder in gunmakers in Sturm Ruger & Company and American Outdoor Brands (Smith & Wesson) said it will speak with both manufacturers about their response to the Florida shooting.

Gunmakers may also come under pressure from pensions – such as Florida’s state pension, which holds shares of American Outdoor Brands. As Bloomberg put it, “as Florida teachers grieve over the mass shooting that left 17 students and colleagues dead last week, some of them may be surprised to learn they’ve been helping fund the firearms industry—including the company that made the gun used that bloody Wednesday.”

Investment giant Blackstone Group, LP asked outside fund managers at a dozen hedge funds to detail their ownership in companies that make or sell guns, requesting answers by Sunday night – a one day turnaround.

Perhaps this explains why both shares in Ruger (RGR) and American Outdoor Brands (ABOC) have remained depressed in light of the predictable bump in sales which correspond with the renewed debate over gun control.

For reference, American Outdoor Brands and Ruger are down roughly -7% and -5% YTD respectively, while the S&P 500 is up 5.64%.

Meanwhile, guns are flying off the shelves…

FLORIDA GUN SHOW I Organizers say they saw record numbers yesterday with close to 7k people showing up and they expect more today! They also tell me they do not support a ban on assault rifles but more laws for mental health. @10NewsWTSPpic.twitter.com/95YGMKGl3E

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An event like this shows that every time some dickhead[s] call for new gun laws, PEOPLE DON’T GET DISCOURAGED FROM BUYING GUNS, THEY GO OUT AND STILL BUY GUNS, ACCESSORIES, AMMO, ETC. Bill Clinton and Barack Obama were the 2 best gun salesmen the industry ever had. I just hope Donald Trump isn’t joining them. I went to a combined gun show/survival expo Sat. and bought more ammo, gun cleaning supplies, freeze-dried food, medical supplies, etc. The place was packed and it was a bitch to move around inside. When I go to those shows, I spend time talking to vendors, other customers, etc. for any intel I may have missed online. In the 2 hours I was there I counted no fewer than 100 people walking out with either new handguns or new long guns of some type. I saw an M1 Carbine made by Inland Co. from 1945, WW2 issue in excellent condition for $1000. I wanted to get it but couldn’t spare the money. The supplies took priority. Another gun show in my area in April. I’d like to get some feedback about a .308 of any type. I’ve looked at some AR10s online but not sure about those. I feel like I need something heavier than 5.56/.223.

AK47s are awesome my friend and the ammo is cheaper than the .308. AK will hammer anyone no matter the armor they are wearing. If the armor stops the round they will be hurting like hell so just keep firing until they die. Not that an AR10 is bad either!

I bought a Gun, in Tampa at the Florida State Fair Grounds in the past. Its a kick ass show with everything you need and more. Had to do a background check. And since I am a concealed carry permit holder, I walked out with the Gun that day, as soon as I paid for it after the check. It was a great deal. They sell everything there.

If you own a concealed carry permit in Florida there is no waiting period at all for any gun. Cash and carry same day. Still have to get a NICS background check even though I have a permit, but after the phone check I buy and out the door I go. There is no Gun show loophole. Its BS Propaganda.

Being the owner of both platforms, I see the utility and special applications of each. I highly recommend all good Americans purchase at least an AR just to ‘fly the flag’ so to speak. An AK to have the most common caliber and rifle type in the world…. just in case of resupply needs if nothing else. The gunshows of late in my area have also been crowded. Didn’t make the Tampa one this go-round. Didn’t need to – had one just south a couple of weeks back and another smaller one a week later. Everyone is doing the same thing ’round here. Adding to their personal arsenal. TDBh – I don’t use the .308 caliber; but, my neighbor cross the street – former Army paratrooper – swears by it. Another neighbor does the reloads for the neighborhood. Good deal on a 1000 round lot. Me? For distance, I like the .300 WinMag or my .22-250. to reach out and touch. Menzob…. to you – as I said, owning both, if I had to grab just one to get the hell out of here with – I’d grab my old AK in a heartbeat. Just can’t stop them from working.

I also suggest pick up an AR15 Pistol. Like a Keltec PLR16 shoots a 100 Rd Mag in 8 Seconds on Ytube, bumpfire, lol Got it!! Make sure you put a Flash suppressor for front venting only. It spits fire… Its a Good truck gun or bedside Gun. Its almost not fair. Put a toggle Laser light on the fore grip quad rails and sight it in with another bore laser light. Match up the dot off the bore sight. Then take a few shots.

I’ve got Bore insert sleeves where you can shoot a 9MM or a .22 out of a 12G Shotgun barrel. It rocks. Maybe I got them at cheaper than dirt. I stocked up yrs ago.

RB, those two are supposedly among the best but it’s been a long time since I’ve seen any at a gun show or even a gun dealer. I’ve heard when people get their hands on one they don’t want to let them go.

Menzo, one of my cousins has an AK. I tried it out the last time I was at the BOL. I liked it but it’s only effective out to 200 yards. For CQB it’s good, but what if I need something effective PAST 200 yards?

theyre locking horns with us in a battle of both wits and brute force that they simply cannot win:
the more they villify us the more guns we buy
the more guns we buy the more they cant ever take them away
75,000,000+ gun owners and climbing
300,000,000+ guns and climbing
mountains of ammo
ability
training
resolve
history as well as most of law enforcement and military on our side
“if youre looking for trouble…youve come to the right place buddy”

Law enforcement is not on your side. I was out with some cops, they thought I was one and when they found out I wasn’t , the shtf. They had all kinds of good stories on how they set people up ,beat them and steal .. Real joke ,they laughed hard then when they found out I wasn’t . Boom .. the stores changed. loose lips sink ships, don’t tell them shit.

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